generalspeaking

Facts, Emotions, Choices

"The only thing the opposition heard was that there won't be a force scenario. Do I believe it? No."
Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk

"We are really afraid, and we know that there will be very many provocations. They had a chance to sign just two weeks ago and why hasn't that happened? It is just a game."
Vitali Klitschko, opposition leader

Friday's emergency meeting between the opposition leaders of mass protests and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych satisfied no one. Amnesty was proposed by Mr. Yanukovych for anyone arrested during the demonstrations, in an attempt to mollify his opponents, along with his promise that he is prepared to sign a trade and political pact with the European Union.

His opponents were less than impressed. This is the man, after all, who at the eleventh hour, pulled back from signing Ukraine's future with the European Union. He has his supporters, those who prefer that Ukraine remain in the orbit of Russia, that economic guarantees that Moscow is now prepared to proffer, restraining themselves from their usual pressure tactics on the impoverished economy appeals to those with short memories.

As the opposition stated its intention to continue the large Sunday demonstrations taking place in Independence Square, Mr. Yanukovych's Party of Regions announced its plans to organize a pro-government demonstration it promised would bring out a number equal to the opposition protesters, leaving the opposition with concerns of potential clashes breaking out.

Sunday turned out to be peaceful enough. An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 opposition protesters turned out as usual at Independence Square, calling for the resignation of the President of Ukraine. Fears of provocateurs planted by the government to turn the demonstration violent appear not to have materialized. The protest joined by pro-government supporters was far smaller in numbers.

That demonstration taking place in a Kiev park was also uneventful. Maria Nikolayeva, 18, informed Reuters "We are here to support the president and order. Yanukovych is our best prospect at the moment." Seregei Antonovich also at the rally, spoke to AP of his reason to reject the EU association agreement: "We'll become the slaves of Europe if we go into it. Look at history -- only union with Russia can save Ukraine from catastrophe".

Leaving one to wonder what history he is referring to, and whether, at age 43, he didn't personally experience some of the compellingly nasty consequences of satellite status within the USSR. As for the European Union planning to malevolently clutch Ukraine with its possessive talons and voraciously tear it apart as an appetizer before devouring other prospective members, it is estimated that the EU will have to be prepared to shore up Ukraine's wobbly economy to the tune of $27-billion annually to regularize its economy.

For its part, Moscow, which vehemently with gritted teeth opposes Ukraine's abandonment of its own offers of a customs union that includes Belarus and Kazakhstan, will see its hope for a new union of satellites shattered.  Should Ukraine go the way of the EU siren call, it well knows from past relations with Russia that it will pay dearly for that abandonment, even while on the other hand, the proxy war between the EU and Russia will in the end, benefit Ukraine.

Labels: Economy, European Union, Russia, Security, Ukraine

posted by Pieface @ Monday, December 16, 2013